Paul Abbandonato reports on how a relaxed Mark Hughes is coping with the most important 10-day period of his time as Wales boss

IF Mark Hughes has any nerves or fears about the biggest game Wales have had for 10 years, then he certainly isn't showing it.

Sparky's Wales team taking on red-hot Italy in their own San Siro backyard before 80,000 screaming fans?

No problem.

Tangling with the likes of Christian Vieri and Alessandro del Piero?

No problem.

But actually, it's nowhere near as simple as that, and it would be an insult to Hughes to suggest otherwise although Wales' task was made a little easier last night when influential playmaker Francesco Totti was ruled out through injury.

But the Wales manager is fully aware of the magnitude of the task facing his team in Milan on Saturday night, the quality of the opposition and the importance of the 90 minutes for Wales.

He knows that not since Wales met Romania at the Arms Park back in 1993 - a match he couldn't shape as a player because he was suspended - has their been an international of such importance.

Hughes even states that four years of hard work he and his players have put in comes down to the back-to-back Euro 2004 qualifiers with Italy and Finland over the next 10-day period.

Yet, despite the obvious pressures that go with that little lot, Hughes yesterday seemed as relaxed, composed and confident as I have seen him before any match during his four-year reign in charge of Wales.

In fact, Sparky was calmness personified as he addressed the issue of Wales' blistering start to Group Nine being in danger of being blown apart by the resurgent Italians.

What does Hughes think of the world-class Italian strike-force of Vieri and del Piero?

"Great players. But we have top-quality footballers, too. When the Italians look at our team-sheet, they will be looking at the threat we pose in many positions," replied Hughes.

Will he change his team's rigid 4-5-1 tactics to cope with that Italian strike triumvirate?

"No, definitely not. Why should I? We always take opposition strengths into account, but then we focus on what we can do. That will be the case once more," answered Hughes.

What about the criticism he took from John Toshack and Kevin Ractliffe, among others, for so-called negative tactics in Serbia-Montengero?

"Sometimes as a manager, when you're caught up in a game, you see things a certain way and then differently when you view it in hindsight. But I've looked at the video of that match and I stand by everything I said at the time - I think we played quite well," countered Hughes.

He then smiled, in a somewhat pointed fashion, "Italy often play Vieri on his own up front. No one accuses them of being defensive, do they?"

On to what's at stake on Saturday night. Is it a case of winner takes the lot in Milan?

"I can see a nice headline there," smiled Hughes.

OK then. Is everything Wales have done so far in the Group Nine campaign coming down to 90 minutes of football?

"I can see another headline there," he smiled again, before going on to acknowledge, "Myself, the coaching staff and the players have put in four years of hard work since I took over as manager.

"This is the point, over the next few days, where hopefully we will start seeing the rewards of that, in terms of us qualifying for Portugal.

"No, I don't see everything hinging upon the Italy game because there are still different combinations of results in the remaining matches which can have an impact upon the final standings in the group.

"But the point I will keep emphasising to the players over the next 10 days is that we need to keep doing the very things which have taken us top of Group Nine in the first place.

"We know the threat Italy pose. We know this is a really is a BIG game. We know this is the sort of enviroment which tests you as a professional and that it will be hard to get a result in Milan.

"But equally, why should there be any fear from my players? Italy have their stars, we have our own top-quality players.

"If we play to the best of our ability, then we are quite capable of coming back with the sort of result we need."

Hughes went on, "You must remember, it's a massive game for Italy, as well as us. Look at the pressure they are under. They play us, then they go to Serbia - and they have to win the two matches.

"So, while I fully respect Italy's standing in world football, that doesn't mean we can't go out there and really compete with them."

That lot said, there is no doubting the huge admiration Hughes has for the Italians, particularly the threat they pose up front.

"I have so much time for Vieri. He's mobile, strong, quick, a good header of the ball, makes quality runs in the box. And he scores goals. He's some player," said Hughes.

"And del Piero offers another threat. There were a couple of occasions against us at the Millennium Stadium when he proved he had the individual ability to create openings on his own.

"Perhaps he doesn't affect matches as much as he would like to do, but there is no denying the danger he can pose."

But while Hughes speaks of his admiration for the Italians, he still maintains Wales can do it their way in Milan - and get the result the nation craves.

Asked if he would change things around, on the back of the Belgrade criticism, Hughes perhaps raised his voice for the first and only time of the day.

"No. Why should I? Everybody suddenly seems to think because we only play with one man up front, we have a defensive formation.

"But when we go forward, I fully expect at least three, and preferably four or five men, to support John Hartson.

"It's not defensive. We have threats from wide, through the middle, players coming from deep. As I say, Italy often leave Vieri up front on his own - but no one says they are defensive.

"I maintain we put in a controlled, good performance against Serbia and were unfortunate not to take something out of the game.

"Everybody was disappointed with the result, but I would have been a lot more concerned had we played badly.

"If some people think it wasn't a good performance, that's their opinion. I happen to think we played well and can take plusses out of the game."

Clearly the Belgrade defeat hasn't shaken Sparky's belief that what he is doing is right. If anything, it has made him even more determined to ensure that his players make the final push in their quest to top Group Nine.

Hughes concluded, "It's the start of a hugely important little period for us. We're entering an enviroment which I believe will stimulate the players.